NEWSWATCH HAPTICS
BORÉAS, CIRQUE COLLABORATE ON PIEZO HAPTIC TRACKPAD
POWER
UBC RESEARCHERS DEVELOP STRETCHY, WASHABLE BATTERY
UBC researchers have created what could be the first battery that is both flexible and washable. It works even when twisted or stretched to twice its normal length, or after being tossed in the laundry. “Wearable electronics are a big market and stretchable batteries are essential to their development,” says Dr. Ngoc Tan Nguyen, a postdoctoral fellow at UBC’s faculty of applied science. “However, up until now, stretchable batteries have not been washable. This is a critical addition if they are to withstand the demands of everyday use.” 6
Boreas and Cirque join forces to create a manufacturer-customizable platform offers HD haptics, adjustable force-sensing for thin, light, responsive trackpads.
Dr. Ngoc Tan Nguyen and his UBC colleagues have created a battery that is both flexible and washable. It works even when twisted or stretched to twice its normal length, or after being washed multiple times.
ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS & TECHNOLOGY / January/February 2022
The battery developed by Dr. Nguyen and his colleagues offers a number of engineering advances. In normal batteries, the internal layers are hard materials encased in a rigid exterior. The UBC team made the key compounds in this case, zinc and manganese dioxide stretchable by grinding them into small pieces and then embedding them in a rubbery plastic, or polymer. The battery comprises several ultra-thin layers of these polymers wrapped inside a casing of the same polymer. This construction creates an airtight, waterproof seal that ensures the integrity of the battery through repeated use. It was team member Bahar Iranpour, a PhD student, who suggested throwing the battery in the wash to test its seal. So far, the battery has withstood 39 wash cycles and the team expects to further improve its durability as they continue to develop the technology. “We put our prototypes through an actual laundry cycle in both home and commercial-grade washing machines. They came out intact and functional and that’s how we know this battery is truly resilient,” says Iranpour. The choice of zinc and manganese dioxide chemistry also confers another important advantage. “We went with zinc-manganese because for devices worn next to the skin, it’s a safer chemistry than lithium-ion batteries, which can produce toxic compounds when they break,” says Nguyen.
WIRELESS
OPEN RF GROUP RELEASES NEW SPECIFICATION
The Open RF Association (OpenRF),
an industry consortium dedicated to creating an open 5G ecosystem of interoperable hardware and software across member multi-mode RF frontend (radio frequency front-end) and chipset platforms, announced the release of its OpenRF Version 1.0.0 specification. This initial specification provides the groundwork for RF front-end to chipset interoperability including a software development environment for advanced feature sets. “Our first specification - one year after the formation of the consortium - benefits the entire 5G industry by establishing an open and interoperable ecosystem between chipsets and RF front-end,” said OpenRF Association President Kevin Schoenrock. The OpenRF spec will optimize configurations and standardize certain specifications enabling interchangeable RF front-end to RFIC (radio-frequency integrated circuit) solutions. This provides 5G wireless device OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) with the maximum choice in RF front-end solutions enabling lower development costs, reduced time-tomarket and design risk, high performance utilizing a platform for future innovations, and an improved supply chain implemented across the breadth of OEM consumer mobile products. “The association’s first specification is a significant accomplishment. A baseline for requirements and a common language are essential to the success of any new organization,” said Dan McNamara, principal analyst with Mobile Experts Inc. “It is the critical first step as OpenRF establishes the language for RF components and modems to speak with each other.” EPT.CA
Photo: Kai Jacobson, UBC; Boreas Technologies
Boréas Technologies, Bromont Quebec-based developers of ultra-low-power high definition (HD) piezo haptic semiconductors, has joined forces with touch-interface technology specialists Cirque Corp., Salt Lake City, to unveil GlideSense – a trackpad module that helps PC manufacturers meet rising demand for richer, more responsive tactile experiences in trackpads that are slim, light and cost-efficient. Featuring Boréas’ Piezo Haptic Trackpad technology, GlideSense is also the first trackpad module to take advantage of Microsoft’s operating systems-level support for haptic trackpads in Windows 11 machines. PC notebook and laptop manufacturers will be able to access the many benefits of piezoelectric haptic architectures that include miniature size, light weight, ultra-low power, and customizable feature sets—in their Windows 11 notebooks and laptops. “Microsoft’s move to support haptic trackpads in Windows 11 reflects a growing shift away from older mechanical-touch trackpads toward newer, thinner haptic-touch trackpads that offer users more satisfying sensory experiences in PC notebooks and laptops,” said Simon Chaput, founder and CEO, Boréas.
